By Simón Gómez on April 11, 2016 Format: Kindle Edition

Verified Purchase

Internet is a wonderful place, full of knowledge, art and amazing things to learn and do. It's a great source of entertainment, information and, in this day and age, it's mostly full of people; cool people, kind people, wise people, but, unfortunately, also bored people that use it to harass and bully other people to feel validated and less powerless (just like in real life). The most well known way to stop this type of person is to ignore them; as the golden rule says: Don't feed the troll. But, are there others?

Just like Nicholas Stewart's other book, "Offensive" this book talks about offensive communication, it's nature, how to stop it from affecting you in a negative way and make it "work for you" but this time being in the receiving end, being "offended" rather than "offensive".

Again, a very interesting read about human relations, communication and self-help in an innovative fashion.

By John J. Staughton on February 27, 2016

Format: Paperback

There are certain books that are meant to be read at a certain point in your life, and perhaps we are drawn to them for a good reason. I feel like Offensive is this book, at least for me, at least right now. Understanding offensive language gives such insight into the motivations and methods behind those in our modern world who use this type of speech and behavior. There are so many delicate nuances and explanations, as well as information that can be gleaned from a person's use of offensive language, and this book helps us unlock these. This helps readers like me not only understand and avoid the use of offensive language in inappropriate situations, but be able to react better to those who use it against us.

Not to get overly political, but there has been so many offensive speeches and statements in recent months that this book couldn't come at a better time. While the quality of writing wasn't always top-notch, the intention of the book, and the truths that it attempts to shed light on, are well worth the read. I would be very interested in reading Stewart's other book Offended, to see the other side of this argument, but this was certainly an interesting place to start.

By Grady Harp HALL OF FAME TOP 100 REVIEWER VINE VOICE

on February 11, 2016 Format: Paperback

Nicholas Andrew Stewart’s strange little OFFENSIVE TALK GUIDE challenges the reader to adjust to his combination of abbreviations and explanations of forms of offensive talk and offensive behavior. He addresses us individually, it seems, with asides and directed instructions for altering both offensive speech on our part and response to offensive remarks from other people. In that manner he pulls us into self-examination and offers some excellent examples of the negative aspects of offensive talk.

‘What seems to be common when trying to get to know offensive communication is that it usually starts with feeling offended. When you’re offended by communication you will still have an opportunity to react positively, you will be motivated and have an opportunity to react positively or negatively. When you've offensively communicated you have usually communicated the wrong thing. If you offensively communicate you’re likely to feel more offended than the receiver of your offensive communication. People in authority can offensively communicate to ensure you feel offended regarding something offensive. People in authority can use offensive communication as a way of teaching right from wrong. Offensive communication can be appropriate when dealing with something you dislike. Communicating the right thing in the right way is what's needed.

’But Nicholas doesn’t stop with offensive talk in this brief manual – he also covers such topics as have a guardian angel, Bible study and the atonement of sin, the definitions of ‘crazy’, alcohol abuse, substance abuse, death, whispering versus talking to ourselves, offensive talk as coping strategies and more.

This is a quick read of a manual – but with so many interesting topics that likely one reading will not suffice. Offensive talk is not a usual conversation topic or essay subject, but Nicholas makes his approach interesting and at times humorous. Food for though, inoffensively speaking! Grady Harp, February 16

By Simón Gómez on February 11, 2016

Format: Paperback

In his other book, Offended, Nicholas Andrew Stewart teaches us how to not get offended easily. In Offensive, it's the opposite. Nicholas gives us insight on offensive communication techniques, when is it useful to be offensive, why do we sometimes feel the need to communicate offensively and the nature of offensive communication.

Offensive is a really interesting take on human communication and how interpersonal relationships work. A blow of fresh air over the self-help genre.

In only 26 pages, even though it's a little hard to read because of Stewart's writing style, Offensive makes clear points and useful insight. I learned a lot about offensive communication and didn't even know there was so much to it.